To Neuter or Not to Neuter - That is the Question!

I recommend spaying and neutering your dog if you are not into conformation showing. Breeding dogs is an art, or at least it should be. One should only breed after studying the breed thoroughly, showing and having the best stock available and making sure you are familiar with the breed's hereditary problems. There are plenty of fun things you can do with your neutered dog.....like obedience, agility and lure coursing. Your dog will not be proned to mammary, uterine, ovarian or testicular cancers or injuries from fights with other unaltered dogs.

You won't have bloody spots all over the house and furniture when your female comes in season and you won't have to worry about an unplanned pregnancy and can relax when she's out in the backyard by herself. Your dog won't be lifting his leg on your favorite plants, furniture or your leg!

Your dog won't be as aggressive with other dogs and can focus all its attention on you - the love of its life!

Best of all, you won't be adding to the overpopulation of animals. The fewer pups that come into the world, the fewer will have to be destroyed! Many unplanned breedings result when unaltered dogs are left to roam and mate with strays or a neighbor's dog and the poor puppies wind up in the pound to be put to death. None of us want to be responsible for loss of life to these poor innocent creatures.

Unfortunately, some people have a bunch of common reasons why they shouldn't have their animal neutered! Here are a few of the usual ones.....

• We want another dog just like King/Queen. NOT! Just as your children are not like you or you are not like your mom or dad, neither will the pups be. Besides, each and every dog has his or her own unique personality as a result of breeding or environment and to expect a puppy to be just like old King would be an unfair expectation of the puppy and an insult to the memory to that cherished old dog! Each animal should be valued for it's own contribution and enrichment to your life.
• My dog will get fat and lazy. NOT! As we all get older, we become more sedatary- dogs, too. Dogs get fat and lazy from the same thing we do......overeating and not enough exercise!
• My dog's personality will change. YES! And for the better! Male dogs won't be as aggressive, neither males nor females will be as proned to roam and they will be more willing to devote themselves to you and what you are doing.I always say that dogs roam for 3 reasons;1) For sex....there are too many animals without homes in the world today to let that happen, 2) for food.....you do feed your dog so no need for that and 3) for companionship.....Bring that puppy inside and make him/her part of your family. It satisfies the pack instinct. Also, DO something with your dog....work with him and teach him something or play with him! Dogs are not mindless creatures! Many breeds were developed to work or for a specific purpose....Just like us, they need a purpose in life!
• We want our children to witness the birth. HOGWASH! The whelping process usually takes place at night and sometimes for hours and hours and into the next day. Who's gonna let some kid stay up all night? First time moms need their privacy, otherwise, she's going to be confused as it is, in pain and all that intrusion could cause her undue stress. She could be screaming or biting, she might reject the pups, try to kill and eat them......What kind of message would that send to the kids? The birthing process although a fact of life is not without danger. The children's favorite dog might lose her life, causing more grief than joy.
• We will sell the pups and make money. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! By the time you pay the stud fee, the vet's fee for pre-breeding requirements of OFA or PennHip and any other tests to rule out hereditary problems, the vitamins and food for the bitch and pups, the post-whelping vet fees for taking off dewclaws, whelping supplies, food, food and more food, shots, worming, your hard labor of cleaning up after them ( For every one pound of food that goes in their mouths, two pounds come out the other end!), talking to people on the phone....many long distance...advertisements, gas for trips to the vet or having to lose work to take them to the vet.....you will barely cover expenses, that is, if you can find them good homes by 8 weeks of age and there are no unforeseen mishaps! And what if you can't find them a home? Are you prepared to keep them as long as necessary? What happens if the mother dies or rejects the pups? Who will feed them every 2 hrs. and stimulate them to eliminate? What if they all get Parvo or Corona at 4 weeks? Who is going to stay up with the sick babies? These are some hard questions that should be asked - and answered - before breeding your dog.
• We are afraid of our pet having surgery. A common concern and always there is a slight risk. Talk with your veterinarian. There are many new anesthetics now that are very safe. The medical benefits far outweigh the risks.
• All that said, I must add that I do not recommend neutering until the dog's long bone growth is completed. Why? Because neutering too early can cause rapid long bone growth that has been linked to bone cancer. Neutering females under 6 mos can cause aggression later in females and shyness in males. Please follow the recommendations of your breeder before you make the decision.